A group of scientists led by Harvard researcher Ted Kaptchuk conducted false acupuncture sessions in 2008 to study the placebo effect. The results showed that simulated treatment and heart-to-heart conversation can be very effective: 62% of participants felt better. But in addition to this, the experts found that the group that had only been put in the treatment queue also started to reduce their symptoms. This shows how much of an impact waiting alone for a cure has on actual symptoms. According to the scientists, one’s own will, imagination and faith influence the course of the disease and, in addition, cause real changes in the brain: activity increases in the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for thinking, planning and action, and decreases in the anterior cingulate cortex and amygdala, which are associated with pain sensations.

Recent studies have found that in Germany, for example, placebos were effective in treating peptic ulcers in 59% of cases, whereas in other countries placebos helped peptic ulcer patients in only 36% of cases. The strength of the effect depends on the place of residence, and a striking example of this is the residents of the United States, who are most prone to the effect of placebos.

An international group of scientists in 2018 conducted a large-scale meta-analysis, examining the results of 522 studies involving 116447 patients. The scientists presented their conclusions in the journal Lancet. They show that antidepressants are more effective than placebo, but not by much. For example, the popular antidepressant Flucosetin proved useless for recovery after stroke. Patients who took the drug for six months showed no improvement compared to the placebo group.

Earlier in 2008, psychologist Irving Kirsch analyzed 35 clinical drug trials (involving 5,000 patients) that were submitted for registration to the American Drug and Product Control Commission. According to the scientist’s findings, on patients with moderate to mild depression, antidepressants had an effect similar to placebo. For those with severe depression, the drugs did help, but not significantly.

The University of British Columbia (Canada) studied the impact of the placebo effect in Parkinson’s disease, a serious neurological disease whose symptoms are associated with the progressive death of dopamine-producing neurons.

Participants in the experiment were told that they would be injected with a drug that would help them manage their disease. In fact, they were given an injection of ordinary saline solution.

As a result, half of the patients responded favorably to the placebo. Moreover, positron emission tomography data showed that their dopamine levels increased by 200%.

One of the most famous placebo researchers Ted Kaptchuk from Harvard University Medical School (USA) conducted several clinical experiments to study the phenomenon. He gave placebos to patients with irritable bowel syndrome and directly informed them that it was a “pacifier” that supposedly helped patients with such a diagnosis because it triggered a “self-healing mechanism”. Most felt an improvement.

Thus, the placebo works even when the patient was informed that he was taking a “blank” drug. The method has been called “open placebo”. It has been shown to be effective in the treatment of other diseases, such as cancer fatigue syndrome, chronic low back pain, and others.

The analgesic effect of “pacifiers” has become more pronounced than that of real drugs. Canadian scientists conducted a thorough meta-analysis of clinical trials in recent years and found that real drugs can no longer demonstrate their advantage over placebo. For example, in 1996, drugs were 27% more effective against pain, but in 2013 the gap had already narrowed by 9%. In the last ten years, 90% of new painkillers have not been tested in clinical trials at all – the effectiveness of placebos, on the contrary, is growing and becoming more pronounced.

Surgical intervention can bring patients relief, even if no surgery per se is performed. In one study of arthritis treatment, orthopedic surgeon Bruce Moseley decided to perform five real surgeries and five false surgeries on patients with bad knees. For the pseudo-operations, patients were brought in on a gurney, given anesthesia and then made incisions that were sewn up forty minutes later. The doctor imitated almost the entire procedure: moving around appropriately, giving commands, creating sounds of knee washing.

The results were striking. Improvement was observed not only in the patients who underwent real surgery, but also in the placebo group: the participants noted a decrease in lameness, pain, now they could move freely and even play basketball. The effects persisted after two years.

Scientists from Emory University (USA) have studied how people’s religious involvement affects the risk of premature death. Specialists analyzed data from the study “Health and Retirement”, which involved tens of thousands of “baby boomers” – people born in the late 40’s – early 50’s of the twentieth century. For this work, the researchers took a sample of 2004: the study group included 18,700 people.

People’s religious involvement was determined by the frequency of attending religious services: more than once a week (“often”), 2-4 times a month (“regularly”), 1-12 times a year (“sometimes”) and “never”. People also answered questions about how important religion is in their lives: “very important” and “fairly important” to “not too important” and “not at all important.”

Next, the researchers looked for a link between people’s religious involvement and their risk of premature death. It turned out that those who attended services more than once a week reduced their risk of death by 57%. Those who attended church “regularly” died 50% less often, and those who attended services “sometimes” – 47% less often than those who never attended church meetings.

According to experts, this situation is due to the fact that the more involved a person is in religious activities, the higher the probability that he or she leads a healthy lifestyle, excluding smoking and alcohol abuse, and is more often engaged in sports. High social activity of people who frequently attend meetings also plays an important role. In addition, people with religious beliefs tend to maintain a good relationship with their spouse, which is also very important for maintaining health in old age.

At the same time, participants who stated that religion was very important, but who did not or rarely attended services, died 3% more often than other respondents. According to scientists, this is due to the fact that this answer was more often given by very old people with serious illnesses who could not often attend meetings. At the same time, the feeling of approaching death increased the subjective value of religion.

The results of the study were published in 2017.

Optimism helps to prolong life and has a positive effect on mental and physical health. This conclusion was reached by scientists from the Meyo Clinic (Minnesota, USA) during a 30-year observation of a group of 447 people.

Based on the results of special tests, all study participants were divided into three groups: optimists (101 people), pessimists (74 people) and mixed type (272 people).

The participants regularly assessed their quality of life by such criteria as general physical well-being, frequency of occurrence and intensity of physical pain, ability to cope with daily routine duties (both physically and emotionally), and quality of communication with other people. It turned out that “chronic” optimists had higher scores on all items than pessimists and people with unstable emotional moods.

In the course of another study at the Meyo Clinic, experts evaluated how optimism and pessimism affect life expectancy: for 30 years, scientists observed a group of over 839 people. It turned out that people with a positive emotional attitude live longer than pessimists.

A team of specialists from Skövde University, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences and Karolinska Institute (Sweden) conducted a theoretical study of the role of oxytocin, released during sensory (in particular somatosensory) stimulation during various types of communicative behavior, for stress reduction.

In a review article, the authors report that not only touch, but also just thinking about a loved one leads to the production of oxytocin, which in turn leads to stress reduction and contributes to everyday well-being.

Researchers at Arizona State University have found that thinking about a loved one can help manage stress and prevent blood pressure from rising.

To create a stressful situation, 102 volunteers placed their feet in cold water, which caused their blood vessels to constrict and their blood pressure to rise. They were then asked to imagine their lovers and loved ones. The results were successful: blood pressure came back to normal, and the most positive effect was in those who were completely satisfied with their relationships.

A study by scientists from the University of Michigan has shown that it is possible to prolong life if a person defines a purpose for it. People who have a sense of purpose in life keep their physical and mental health much longer, which adds valuable years to their lives.

About 7,000 people participated in the study, with an average age of over 68 years old. In 2006, all participants were given a test that assessed their psychological well-being. They had to indicate how much they agreed with such life statements as “I like making plans for the future” or “Overall, I feel confident and positive.” And by 2010, 776 subjects had died. Specialists saw a direct link between the meaning of life and the probability of death: people who lacked purpose died more often. And scientists have shown that this factor has no less influence on health than smoking, alcohol, inactive lifestyle and other harmful factors.

American experts conducted a meta-analysis of 15 studies involving almost 230,000 people and revealed the undoubted health benefits of optimism: it can protect against heart attacks, strokes and reduce the risk of premature death.

According to the researchers, optimists have a 35% lower risk of cardiovascular disease compared to pessimists. Moreover, this is observed in different age groups: from teenagers to people over 90 years old. They also add: the more positive the mood, the lower the risk of heart disease and early death.

So far, the scientists have only identified a correlation, but not causation. However, they have pointed to a number of indirect evidence in favor of a positive way of thinking. Thus, according to experts, optimists are better at solving problems, achieve their goals faster, control their health more carefully, watch their diet, and tend to lead an active lifestyle without bad habits. They tend to have healthier immune systems, better metabolism, and lower levels of inflammation in the body, with huge benefits for overall health.

Previous studies have already shown that an optimistic outlook on life increases the chances of living longer.

The authors of the meta-analysis argue that new behavioral therapies need to be developed that focus on reducing pessimism and increasing optimism. They also intend to determine whether such an intervention strategy would provide similar health benefits as “innate” optimism.

Scientists from Boston University have found a link between outlook and life expectancy. It turned out that optimistic men and women live 11 and 15 percent longer, respectively.

The authors relied on patient data from two samples. The first Nurses’ Health Study involving 121,000 women began back in 1976. Every two years, they were required to fill out questionnaires about lifestyle, behavior, and illnesses. In 2004, the participants were tested about their outlook, including their level of optimism, and until 2014, scientists tracked their mortality. As a result, 6,974 women were selected for the final optimism test. The second normative aging study began in 1963 and enrolled 2,280 men. They were also tested for optimism in 1986, and researchers followed their mortality rates until 2016. In the end, 1,429 men participated in the final test.

To identify the relationship between optimism and life expectancy, the scientists used an accelerated testing model, after which they used multiple regression analysis to calculate the odds ratio, which quantitatively described the relationship between the two traits.

The calculations showed that optimistic women lived 15% longer than pessimistic women. The results for men were similar: optimists lived 11% longer than pessimists.

The authors hypothesize that optimistic attitudes allow one to adopt a healthy lifestyle, be more goal-oriented, solve problems more effectively, and recover from physical and mental trauma more quickly, all of which can significantly increase life expectancy.

Researchers at Harvard University conducted a large-scale study to examine the impact of an optimistic attitude on the risk of various diseases and mortality rates. The study lasted from 2004 to 2012 and involved more than 70 thousand middle-aged and older nurses. Specialists studied the impact of psychological mood on the likelihood of developing heart disease, cancer, stroke, respiratory infections, and lung disease. During eight years of observation, about 30 thousand women who participated in the experiment died. Experts analyzed the causes of their deaths.

It turned out that women who had a positive attitude, died 36% less often than their colleagues with the most negative psychological attitudes. Optimists were half as likely to get respiratory infections, the probability of stroke was lower by 39%, heart and lung diseases – by 38%, and cancers were registered less often by 16%. In addition, observations showed that women with a stable positive attitude were much less likely to have diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and rarely had elevated cholesterol levels.

Among other positive trends that were identified during the study in optimistic people – more active immune reactions in response to the introduction of vaccines (which is an indicator of high resourcefulness of defense mechanisms). In biochemical examination, optimists registered a lower level of inflammatory markers and an increased concentration of antioxidants in serum.

According to scientists, the positive trends concerning various aspects of health in optimistic people are due to many factors. Among them – a reduced tendency to depression and less adherence to bad habits, high stress resistance. Experts also noted that people with a stable positive mood tend to spend more time on active rest, cooking healthy food. In addition, optimists tend to have more social contacts, communicate more easily with other people, make friends, which, as shown in a number of studies, has the most positive effect on health and life expectancy.

Researchers from the German Center for Gerontology analyzed data from a three-year longitudinal study with a survey of 5,039 German residents aged 40 to 95 years.

In the survey, participants were asked to rate their subjective age, stress levels, and to answer questions about their functional status: whether they had difficulty with everyday activities such as walking, washing, and dressing, for example.

It turned out that the older the participants were, the greater the association between stress and poorer functional health they showed. And it was in this group that the influence of subjectively perceived age was strongest: the younger the participants felt, the better their physical condition was.

Subjective age – how old a person feels – turns out to be more important than real age, scientists have found.

All people age differently, and many people feel older or younger than their real age. Specialists from the University of Montpellier conducted a long-term large-scale study and concluded that the biological age reflects age-related changes in the body, and psychological – the mood of the person and the completeness of intellectual and emotional life. Feeling younger means a lower risk of depression, a healthier psyche, and a reduction in senile dementia and symptoms of other age-related diseases. In contrast, feeling old has serious unfortunate consequences: study participants who felt 8-13 years older had an 18-25% increased risk of death over the entire study period, and they were more likely to die.

Positive emotions significantly increase the chances of prolonging life in patients with cardiovascular disease. This trend was revealed in a study conducted at Duke University (North Carolina, USA). Doctors observed a group of 866 people with coronary heart disease who underwent a cardiac catheterization procedure. The average age of the subjects was 60 years old.

The tendency to optimism or pessimism was determined using a special test. The ability of people to experience joy, gratitude, euphoria, the ability to dream and laugh light-heartedly was assessed. It turned out that a stable positive attitude by 20% increases the chances of patients to live another 11 years. According to doctors, the study established a clear link between the ability to experience positive emotions and the likelihood of prolonging life in people with cardiovascular diseases.

Researchers from Yale University have found that a positive lifestyle affects life expectancy even more than conventional preventive measures.

The experiment, which involved 660 volunteers aged 50 years, lasted almost 23 years. Among them, scientists conducted a psychological test to determine the attitude of older people to aging. After the participants’ health was monitored. As it turned out, those people who had a cheerful attitude lived 7.6 years longer than those who had a negative perception of reality.

Patients who fail to cope with depression after a heart attack have a high chance of experiencing it again, and a positive attitude significantly increases the likelihood of full recovery.

In the course of long-term observations of patients with heart disease, experts at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (Maryland, USA) revealed a reliable link between depression and the likelihood of developing heart attacks. Researchers noted that one in five patients who survive a heart attack show signs of depression such as lack of confidence in the future, doubts about their ability to fully fulfill their work and family responsibilities, guilt for habits that may have led to a heart attack and so on.

Long-term observations show that people who have not coped with depression have a higher risk of developing a second heart attack. According to scientists, this is due to a much lower motivation for treatment, including taking necessary medications, exercise, healthy eating, etc., as well as a tendency to return to bad habits. In addition, long-term depression leads to neuroendocrine disorders, against which a person’s susceptibility to risk factors for the development of a heart attack increases.

That is why doctors believe that a positive attitude plays a key role in the recovery of the body after a heart attack and in the prevention of recurrent episodes. Confidence that the actions taken, such as exercise, proper nutrition, taking medications, etc., have a positive impact on health, significantly increases the effectiveness of measures to recover from the disease and prevent new attacks.

The subjects of the study, conducted by scientists from Harvard University, were women who participated in a large-scale project “Nurses’ Study”, which took place from 1976 to 2012 and aimed to study the impact of various aspects on the health and risk of death of women over a large period of their lives.

The impact of religiosity on health and longevity was analyzed after including questions on the questionnaire regarding the participants’ attitudes towards religion. Respondents answered questions about how often they attended church: more than once a week, once a week, 1-3 times a month, less than once a month, never (almost never).

The follow-up period was 16 years (1996-2012) and the number of participants was 74,534. Over 13.5 thousand women died during the follow-up period, with more than 2.7 thousand dying from cancer and about 4.5 thousand from cardiovascular disease.

It turned out that compared to women who never attended religious services, women who went to church more than once a week had a 33% lower all-cause mortality rate during the 16 years of follow-up. There was a statistically significant reduction in mortality from strokes and breast cancer, while mortality from coronary heart disease and other cancers decreased modestly.

Among the factors that reduced mortality of women maximally involved in religion, the scientists named the absence of bad habits (this can explain the reduction in mortality by 22%), social involvement (reduces mortality by 23%). Also among the factors that help religious women to prolong life, they call less inclination to depression, optimistic attitude. In addition, women involved in religion are less likely to get divorced and try harder to work on a good relationship with their spouse.

However, according to experts, lifestyle and social involvement cannot fully explain the significant advantage in life expectancy of women involved in religion.

Scientists from the University of Kentucky (USA) conducted a study that allowed to establish a link between positive emotions and strengthening of immunity. The objects of the study were 124 volunteers – all of them were first-year law students. The students’ inner mood was assessed using questionnaires, and the activity of cell-mediated immunity, which plays an important role in preventing and getting rid of viral infections, was determined using special skin tests.

Volunteers were examined five times: the first “point” was at the beginning of the semester in August, and the last – in February – the time when the results of exams for the first semester became known and the question of summer internship was decided. During these seven months, the students’ moods changed repeatedly due to difficulties in learning or communication, successes, unfulfilled or realized expectations, and so on. Researchers assessed how the activity of the immune response changed in response to changes in the students’ moods. The study demonstrated a link between the students’ mood and the activity of cell-mediated immunity: the more optimistic the volunteers were about life, the better their defense mechanisms performed.

Specialists from the J. Patel Institute of Ayurvedic Studies and Research, Gujarat Ayurveda University and SDM College of Ayurveda (India) conducted a study on the influence of social and lifestyle factors. J. Patel Institute of Ayurvedic Research and Studies, Ayurvedic University of Gujarat and SDM College of Ayurveda (India) conducted a study of the influence of social and lifestyle factors on the appearance of symptoms of premature aging.

The study participants were 108 patients with stress-related premature aging who met the inclusion criteria of the Aging Scale. About 80% of the volunteers indicated that they felt they had excessive responsibility in the family.

It was found that the causes of severe stress were in the sphere of personal relationships in all patients: at the family level – in 73.14%, at the professional level – in 64.81%.

The scientists concluded that psychological factors in professional, social and family spheres play a major role in the pathology of premature aging and violation of the general psychological status.

Researchers from Ohio State University (USA) conducted a study to establish a link between the religious affiliation of a deceased person, which was mentioned in the obituary, and his or her life expectancy. Specialists believed that the post facto assessment of a person’s religiosity may be more objective than his own perception of commitment to religion.

Researchers analyzed two groups of obituaries: 505 death notices were published in the Des Moines Register between Jan. 1, 2012, and Feb. 29, 2012. Also included in the analysis were 1,096 obituaries posted on the websites of city newspapers in major metropolitan areas.

It turned out that the difference in life expectancy between individuals with obituaries that emphasized religion and those whose obituaries did not mention religion averaged 4.8 years in favor of the more religious people. This trend persisted despite differences in marital and social status, which are known to be important for longevity.

The results of the study were published in 2018.

A team of scientists from the Universities of Pennsylvania and Michigan and the University of California, Los Angeles (USA) studied the effect of using affirmations (outlining personal values) on motivation to increase physical activity in sedentary adults.

The study involved a sample of 67 participants. The experimental group performed verbal and written incentive tasks to work with affirmations that were related to personal values, while the control group worked with neutral statements. The researchers monitored the participants’ brain activity during some of the tasks using fMRI. Working with affirmations stimulated in volunteers in the experimental group brain regions associated with the enjoyment of rewards (real or expected – for affirmations directed toward the future). In the second phase, both groups viewed affirmations about the potential harms of a sedentary lifestyle.

As a result, participants in the experimental group noted an increase in motivation for an active lifestyle, as well as a dramatic increase in the amount of time spent in movement. At the same time, participants in the control group showed no significant increase in the level of physical activity, which, as the authors explained, was due to the work of brain mechanisms of displacement of alarming information about the harm of sedentary lifestyle.

The researchers concluded that affirmations have a motivational role, as well as an increased susceptibility to health warning information in people who practice them.

Specialists from the University of Michigan and Baylor University (USA) compared the effectiveness of progressive muscle relaxation and hypnotic suggestion methods in influencing the perception of body image by female cancer survivors.

Eighty-seven women participated in the experiment. The stress associated with bodily changes led to sexual dysfunction in the participants.

The results of the study showed that the suggestion method was more effective in restoring sexual interest and satisfaction.

A study conducted by scientists from the University of Northern Colorado (USA) examined the effect of hypnosis as an adjunctive method to a behavioral weight control program on short- and long-term weight change. 109 subjects between the ages of 17 and 67 underwent behavioral therapy with or without the addition of hypnosis (experimental group) or without it (control group). At the end of the 9-week program, both groups had achieved significant weight loss. However, at the 8-month and 2-year follow-up periods, clients in the group that additionally received hypnotic suggestion showed significant continuation of weight loss, while those who received behavioral treatment alone showed little further change. Most of the subjects who used hypnosis also achieved and maintained their desired weight. The authors concluded that it was beneficial to use hypnosis as an adjunct to a behavioral weight control program.

A study conducted by scientists from the University of Washington together with colleagues from the University of California at Santa Cruz and the University of California at Santa Barbara (USA) has shown that suggestion can have a positive effect on memory and self-esteem. A total of 237 people took part in the study. For a month, the subjects listened to music every day from so-called self-help audiocassettes, the labels of which said which of the two aspects (memory or self-esteem) the content of the audiocassette was aimed at improving.

In reality, the labeling was randomly assigned, so the effect claimed by the manufacturer may or may not have been the same as that indicated on the label. Therefore, some subjects who thought they were using the cassettes for memory were actually using the cassettes for self-esteem, and vice versa. After one month of use, more than one-third of the subjects had improvements in the area indicated on the label of the audiocassette regardless of its content.

Specialists from the Human Kinetics Laboratory at Laval Hospital (Canada) conducted a study involving 48 young healthy subjects to test whether placebos could enhance the relationship between aerobic exercise and psychological well-being. Participants in the control and experimental groups exercised for 10 weeks, but only participants in the experimental group were led to believe that the exercise program was designed to have a positive effect on their psychological well-being (the indicator of psychological well-being in the study was participants’ self-esteem). According to the results obtained, there was a significant improvement in physical fitness in both groups. But only the participants of the experimental group felt the beneficial effect of aerobic exercise on self-esteem.

A study by scientists from the Scottish Institute of Sport and the University of Edinburgh has found that doping taken by some athletes to improve their performance has the desired effect, largely due to the athletes’ belief that it works.

The experiment involved 17 professional athletes who had to run a distance of 1,000 meters for time. The results showed that suggestion of doping (actually a placebo) led to an increase in athletic performance by several times, which correlated in effect size with actual conscious doping. In contrast, doping without participants being aware of it (to exclude the effects of suggestion and expectation) did not significantly increase athletes’ performance. The authors discuss the possibility of applying the effects of suggestion and expectation in sport.

Scientists from Italy and the UK conducted a meta-analysis of 85 studies to find out how effective hypnotic analgesia – pain-relieving suggestion – can be. The review covered 3,632 participants who suffered from different types of acute pain (arising from colds, bruises, exercise, laser exposure, cold, etc.). The results of the analysis showed that people with high levels of susceptibility were able to reduce pain by 42% and those with medium levels by 29%. The authors concluded that suggestion can be a good alternative to many pain medications.

Experts from Sultan Zainal Abidin University and the London College of Clinical Hypnosis (Malaysia) performed a meta-analysis of 40 studies to determine the effectiveness of hypnosis as a treatment option for obstetric and gynecological patients, especially for pain relief in laboring women.

The study found a positive effect of suggestion as a support method for obstetric and gynecologic patients, leading to a reduction in pain and complications during labor and delivery and increasing women’s sense of control and autonomy during the process.

The authors suggest that the introduction of training programs in hypnosis and self-hypnosis may be useful for obstetric and gynecological patients as well as for medical staff on an ongoing basis.

Researchers from the University of Turin (Italy) together with colleagues conducted a study of the effect of self-hypnosis on weight loss in 120 severely obese participants. For a year, both the control and experimental groups followed the recommendations on physical activity and nutrition. The experimental group was trained in the self-injury method and practiced it for a year before each meal to correct eating behavior (compulsive overeating).

According to the results, the self-injury method had no effect on the amount of weight lost during the year, but had a significant effect on reducing obesity-related inflammation, increasing satiety at meals, and improving the quality of life of the experimental group.

Researchers from the Mamuzu Polytechnic Institute of Health of the Ministry of Health tested the effectiveness of instrumental music and self-hypnosis on lowering blood pressure in hypertensive patients.

Forty-six patients were recruited and assigned to an experimental and a control group. The first group received standard pharmacological therapy and listened to instrumental music and practiced self-hypnosis (autohypnosis). The second group received only standard pharmacologic therapy.

The results showed significant reductions in systolic and diastolic blood pressure after instrumental music and self-hypnosis therapy.

The researchers concluded that instrumental music and self-hypnosis are effective options for achieving a relaxed state and stabilizing blood pressure.

Researchers in the UK evaluated the effect of a placebo on pulmonary responses in asthmatics. 12 adult patients were recruited for a laboratory experiment that ostensibly evaluated the effectiveness of a new bronchodilator, a drug that widens the airways in the lungs. It was actually plain distilled water. Participants in the control group were told that the nebulizer contained water, but the two experimental groups were told that they were being given a drug with an active ingredient: in one case a supposedly beneficial one, in the other an irritant.

As a result, participants who were led to believe they were taking a drug containing an irritant experienced respiratory spasms. In contrast, no such effect was observed in the group of people who thought they were taking a drug with a beneficial substance.

Experts from the UK and the US conducted a study to investigate the impact of participants’ expectations on the outcome of a trial comparing two BTE hearing aids with identical electroacoustic characteristics. The only difference was that one of them was labeled as a “new” hearing aid.

20 experienced adult hearing aid users rated the “new” hearing aid as the best in terms of sound quality. Average performance on speech tests in noise was also better with this device.

These results demonstrate the effect of placebo intervention on age-related changes in auditory experience. The stronger the expectation of a positive effect, the better the index of listening to the speech of others becomes.

A team of scientists from Coatesville Medical Center (USA) together with colleagues from West Chester University of Pennsylvania and New Life Youth and Family Services (USA) conducted a study involving 261 combat veterans to assess the effectiveness of self-injury in reducing drug and alcohol dependence and preventing relapse. Results were obtained that suggest that self-hypnosis is highly effective in preventing chronic drug and alcohol use (relapse). The self-hypnosis method had a positive effect on participants’ self-esteem, reducing impulsive behavior and the frequency of anger outbursts and returning them to a state of inner balance and serenity. These effects were strongly associated with abstinence from the unhealthy habit.

A team of scientists from the Indonesian University of Depok and the Padang Polytechnic Institute of Health Sciences conducted a study on the effect of coaching and self-injury techniques on blood glucose levels in the elderly.

Seventy-six elderly people were selected to participate in the experiment. The participants in the control and experimental group had their blood sugar levels measured twice a day for four weeks. In addition, the experimental group underwent coaching and self-hypnosis.

It was found that, unlike the control group, participants in the experimental group showed a greater difference between their blood sugar levels before and after the intervention. The authors concluded that coaching and self-injury can lower blood glucose levels. This intervention can additionally be used to make lifestyle changes in older adults with diabetes. In addition, coaching and self-hypnosis can be used as preventive interventions to prevent health problems.

Researchers from Bangor and Kent Universities (UK) found increased endurance and performance in athletes in response to receiving subliminal visual cues related to themes of effort and action (pictures of happy faces and motivational words). Fourteen individuals participated in the study. Images and words that stimulated athletic motivation were shown subliminally (for 16 ms – imperceptible to the eye) on a monitor screen during training sessions. The use of subliminal stimulation allowed the athletes to noticeably improve their sports performance.

Researchers from Northwestern University of Technology and Social Behavior (USA) have found that contemplating smiling faces has a positive effect on creativity and commitment, improving the quality and quantity of ideas during creative work.

A series of two experiments involved 226 and 27 participants (respectively). Subjects were asked to take tests of creative thinking while having visual access to positive, negative, or emotionally neutral images, or no access to additional image stimulation at all.

Both negative and positive emotional images were found to stimulate creative problem solving. This was higher for positive images, but not statistically significant.

Researchers believe that affective images (especially positive ones, such as smiling faces) stimulate perseverance and goal-orientedness, as well as activate associative thinking and attention during task performance.

Specialists from New York University (USA) investigated the automaticity of social behavior, which takes place due to unconscious following of behavioral stereotypes, messages about which a person receives from the surrounding social environment. In particular, one of the experiments was aimed at studying the stereotype about the behavior of old people.

Its participants were 30 people. The test subjects were asked to solve problems on composing sentences from words in the wrong order. For the control group, the sets of words were neutral. In addition to neutral words, participants in the experimental group were presented with words usually associated with old age (e.g., “old”, “lonely”, “gray”, “selfish”, “cautious”, “sentimental”, “wise”, “stubborn”, “bingo”, “forgetful”, “wrinkled”, “obedient”, “conservative”, “knitted”, “dependent”, “helpless”, “trusting”). After the participants completed the task, an assistant experimenter secretly measured how long it took each of them to walk down the hallway after walking out the study doors.

It turned out that the volunteers for whom the stereotype about old age had been set walked slower down the corridor after completing the experiment than the participants in the control group, which corresponded to the content of the stereotype about the slow behavior of the elderly.

A team of experts from the Institute of Interactive Technologies of Madeira (Portugal), the Cyprus University of Technology (Cyprus) and the Higher Technical Institute (Portugal) tested the efficacy of action-inducing subsensory messages presented in real-life conditions while surfing the web.

12 participants received subliminal cues in the form of high-transparency words (barely filled with color) related to water or drinking behavior (an average of 53 words per hour) while surfing the web for five working days (9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.). The words could be presented either alone or in conjunction with concepts or qualities with positive emotional coloring (e.g., “useful”, “friend”, “pleasant”). During the five days of the experiment, the participants’ ambient temperature, weight, physical activity and water intake were measured.

The scientists were able to draw the following conclusions: the presentation of subsensory, water-related words does not significantly affect the change in the total amount of liquid consumed. However, there is a statistically significant increase in the amount of water drunk per sip when water-related cues are presented in conjunction with positive emotional words. In addition, it has been found that subconscious stimulation of behavioral responses is more likely to lead to action when it is generally desired by the individual or associated with unmet needs.

Scientists from New York University (USA) have proved the effectiveness of subconsciously set goals to create motivation in people for a certain action.

The experiment involved 60 people. The test subjects were asked to read 24 sentences telling about someone’s deeds or everyday actions. Some time after reading, the participants were warned that all the sentences referred to the actions of one character and were asked to share their impressions about it. It was forbidden to reread the sentences, so participants had to be guided only by their memory of what they had read. Even before reading the sentences, subjects in the experimental group were exposed to a subsensory instruction encouraging them to make an impression, while volunteers in the control group received subsensory stimulation with neutral words.

It turned out that the subconsciously perceived instruction prompted the experimental group participants to make an impression of the character already while reading the 24 sentences, that is, long before they knew that all sentences referred to the same character. As a result, the impressions shared by participants in the experimental group were much more reflective of the character than the impressions shared by the control group, relying for the most part only on those sentences that were able to play in memory.

Specialists conclude that intentions can be activated unintentionally. This can both help the movement towards desirable goals and harm it, in case the environment is rich in negative implicit stimuli. Therefore, special attention should be paid to events, places, and sources of information that are known to be positive from the point of view of one’s own goals and desires.

Specialists from the University of Montreal (Canada) have tested the hypothesis that subconsciously given cues can direct a person’s thinking in the desired or undesired (negative cues) direction when solving tasks.

Forty-three people (average age 27 years) participated in the experiment. The subjects were asked to solve logic problems. During the solution, the experimental group received subsensory cues (subgroup 1) or misleading subsensory messages (subgroup 2). Participants in the control group received no subsensory stimulation.

It was found that the use of subsensory cues significantly enhanced performance and intuition during problem solving by shortening the time from problem posing to intuitive decision making about the answer.

Specialists from Utrecht University (the Netherlands) investigated the influence of subsensory messages on the performance of cognitive and behavioral tasks. The sample size amounted to 53 subjects.

The participants were warned that they would be rewarded at the end of the experiment for correct task performance in the form of virtual coins earned for each task. The cost of a correct solution for each task was either low or high. Participants in the control group saw the cost before starting each task, while participants in the experimental group received this information unconsciously via a subliminal display of the cost on the screen (20 ms).

As hypothesized, expectation of valuable rewards enhanced performance better than expectation of less valuable rewards. However, this only occurred when the warning of them was displayed unconsciously.

The authors concluded that overt warning about the likelihood of receiving a valuable reward increased the fear of making a mistake and therefore had a negative effect. In contrast, the effect of subsensory messages is more reliable and persists longer, having a good motivational effect and a beneficial effect on cognitive performance.

Scientists from the National Helfgott College of Medicine (Portland, USA) conducted an experiment that investigated the psychological and physiological effects of regular use of Binaural beat technology (BBT) for 60 days. Binaural Beat Technology (BBT) products are marketed internationally as a means of personal development and wellness. The manufacturers hypothesize benefits from regular listening to binaural rhythms, including reduced stress and anxiety, and increased concentration. The experimental group included eight people. In the study, they were asked to listen to CDs with delta (0-4 Hz) binaural frequencies daily for 60 days. The results of the study showed that the respondents significantly showed a decrease in anxiety and an increase in quality of life between the pre- and post-intervention measurements.

Researchers at North Carolina’s Wake Forest School of Medicine have shown that real-time acoustic stimulation alleviates symptoms of PTSD and depressed mood. The study used real-time HIRREM technology, which involves recording brain electrical activity from sensors on the scalp, computer-controlled algorithmic analysis of nerve oscillation frequencies to translate into sound frequencies, and the return of acoustic signals back to the brain (via the auditory system). Nineteen volunteers took part in the experiment.

Researchers from North Carolina’s Wake Forest School of Medicine and the University of Arizona have shown that real-time acoustic exposure improves heart rate variability and baroreflex, reduces systolic, diastolic and mean arterial pressure, and reduces symptoms of insomnia and depressed mood. The study used HIRREM technology. Sensors on the scalp monitor the brain’s electrical activity, and software algorithms translate certain frequencies into audible tones of varying pitch in real time. These are played through headphones, giving the brain a chance to listen to itself or “look at itself” in an acoustic mirror. The study involved 220 volunteers.

Russian scientists from Novosibirsk State Pedagogical University studied the effectiveness of the effect of audiovisual stimulation (AVS) on the cardiovascular system. 60 track and field athletes underwent 20-22 sessions of ABC, in which two programs were used: the first – 7-20 Hz 30 minutes in the morning before training, activating excitatory processes, and the second – 4-12 Hz for 25 minutes after training, designed for relaxation. The results demonstrated an improvement in cardiovascular performance.

The same research team decided to test how ABC affects cognitive abilities and some physiological functions in students. After an identical course (without training), the subjects showed improvements in mechanical memory, attention, visual reaction, and decreased anxiety levels. In addition, as in the previous study, the researchers noticed that ABC promoted more economical heart function.

Specialists from Ken Hee University Hospital in Korea have shown that stimulation with flashes of light and sound tones with a frequency in the delta range (1-4 Hz) has a sedative effect on healthy people and can be used to reduce anxiety. The study was conducted on 11 volunteers.

Researchers at the University of Washington have shown that using 30 minutes of audiovisual stimulation consisting of 30 minutes of pulsed light (red and green spectrum) and binaural sounds (headphones) activates delta waves in the brain, which may promote sleep and help with insomnia. gradually decreased from alpha The frequency of stimulation was gradually decreased from the alpha band (10 Hz) to the delta band (2 Hz). Sixteen volunteers participated in the study.

Researchers from Thomas Jefferson University conducted a study of audiovisual stimulation on 39 volunteers. The results showed that stimulation with flickering light and sound tones at frequencies of 4-12 Hz improved attention and concentration.

A study by scientists from the University of Washington involving 8 volunteers showed that stimulation with flickering light and pulsating sound with a frequency of 8 to 1 Hz reduced the severity of insomnia, improved sleep quality and physical well-being during the day. In addition, participants who were initially depressed had a significant improvement in mood after 1 month of therapy.

A research team from Turkey conducted a study that tested the effectiveness of binaural rhythms in reducing preoperative anxiety. 60 patients who were about to undergo dental intervention were divided into study and control groups. Anxiety levels were recorded before and after the experiment. Prior to surgery, participants were injected with local anesthetic, after which the experimental group listened to ~10 Hz binaural rhythms for 10 minutes while the other group simply waited for the procedure. The listening resulted in a significant reduction in anxiety, while no change was observed in the control group.

Canadian scientists have concluded that listening to binaural beats may be helpful in reducing mild anxiety. 15 participants in the experiment listened to music tapes containing binaural rhythms in the delta/theta frequency range of the electroencephalogram every day for one month. The listening resulted in a significant decrease in the anxiety score recorded daily in the patients’ diaries. Researchers indicated that future studies should take into account musical preferences among participants, as this directly affects the effectiveness of this therapy.

Scientists from the Helfgott Research Institute (USA) conducted an experiment that examined the effect of binaural rhythms on people’s psychological state. It turned out that daily listening to delta (0-4 Hz) binaural frequencies for 60 days significantly reduces the level of anxiety and improves the quality of life.

A group of Spanish scientists investigated the possible positive effect of binaural rhythms on patients suffering from parkinsonism. Patients participated in two sessions of sound stimulation for 10 minutes separated by a minimum of seven days. The use of 14 Hz binaural rhythm stimulation resulted in normalization of EEG power, normalization of functional brain connectivity and improvement of working memory. Thus, scientists recommend 14 Hz as an adjunctive tool in the treatment of Parkinson’s.

Experts from the Baycrest Geriatric Care Center and the University of Toronto in Canada have found that binaural rhythms with a frequency of 40 Hz increase attentiveness and performance in subjects during a task. However, the effect was not observed during the listening session, but between sessions. Twenty-nine volunteers participated in the study.

A study conducted at Duke University (North Carolina, USA) compared the effects of binaural rhythms on mood and vigilance. 29 experimental participants performed a 30-minute visual vigilance task while listening to pink noise containing simple tones or binaural rhythms in either the beta (16 and 24 Hz) or theta/delta (1.5/4 Hz) ranges. Listening to binaural beats with a beta frequency had a positive effect on respondents’ attentiveness, which was associated with a more positive mood.

Some articles have reported benefits of BR on the cardiovascular system.

A study conducted by a research group from the United States examined the effect of binaural rhythms on heart rate variability (HRV) during relaxation after exercise. At the beginning of the experiment, subjects exercised for 20 minutes each. After exercise, they listened to either binaural rhythms of the theta-frequency range or placebo (carrier frequency tones) for 20 minutes. The findings suggest that listening to binaural rhythms can have a strong effect on both HRV components and can enhance subjective feelings of relaxation.

Specialists from the University of Manchester and the University of Cambridge have shown that if the brain is “tuned” to a certain frequency, pain can be alleviated. This can be done by giving volunteers auditory stimulation with binaural rhythms in the range from 8 to 12 Hz or protective glasses that flicker with flashes of light at the brain’s alpha-band frequency of 8-12 Hz. In this case, the pain is felt less intensely. Sixty-four subjects participated in the study. The greatest reduction in pain was observed after stimulation at a frequency of 10 Hz.

A group of scientists from the Center for Modeling and Control of Dynamic Systems (Virginia, USA), studying the effect of binaural rhythms on working memory, came to the conclusion that listening to binaural beats with a frequency of 15 Hz creates in the brain networks characterized by higher information transfer, compared to other conditions of auditory stimulation included in the experiment (silence, pure tone, classical music, binaural rhythms of 5 and 10 Hz).

The therapeutic properties of natural sounds have already been repeatedly reported in scientific articles. Russian scientists decided to check how they affect the regulation of cardiac activity. The study involved 20 girls aged 20 ±2 years. For 20 minutes they listened to audio recordings of murmuring brooks and sea expanses. Before and after the experiment, cardiovascular data were collected. The findings demonstrate that nature sounds can influence heart rate by shifting the system to a less energy-consuming level of regulation.

A group of scientists from St. Petersburg came to this conclusion. The study found that listening to classical music in the respondents led to an increase in telomere sites and, consequently, to an increase in life expectancy.

Researchers from the USA conducted an experiment that evaluated the effect of two 12-week programs on telomere length, telomerase activity and levels of amyloid-β, which is associated with the risk of cognitive decline. Sixty elderly participants with dementia were offered programs of meditation or listening to classical music for 12 minutes a day. The results of this study suggest that both of these body and mind healing practices may have a positive effect on levels of biological markers of aging.

Researchers from the Stress Institute at Roosevelt University (Illinois, USA) came to this conclusion. In their study, 63 students were divided into three groups: the first group listened to a recording of Mozart’s “Eine Kleine Nachtmusik”, the second listened to Siven Halpern’s “New Age Serenity”. Participants in the third group chose a set of popular entertainment magazines instead of musical accompaniment. The result was that those who listened to Mozart reported greater psychological relaxation and less stress than those who listened to New Age music or read magazines.

The study examined how music at 432 Hz affected sleep quality and sleep latency (an assessment of daytime sleepiness and the rate at which a person falls asleep during the day in a quiet environment).

Participants in the study were 15 men between the ages of 18 and 40 who had trouble falling asleep. Specialists turned on music at a frequency of 432 Hz and monitored the volunteers’ sleep. The parameters evaluated were: sleep stages, electroencephalogram (EEG), electrocardiogram (ECG), electromyography (EMG), nasal airflow, chest movements, nasal saturation, etc.

The results showed that participants had a slight decrease in sleep latency with a significant increase in alpha wave activity at the onset of sleep. The scientists concluded that 432 Hz music can have a calming effect, which is expressed as an increase in alpha wave activity, but without a significant effect on daytime sleep latency.

In the study, scientists compared the effects of music tuned to frequencies of 440 and 432 Hz. The participants were 33 volunteers with acute or chronic illnesses.

A total of two sessions of music listening were conducted. In both cases, the same music (movie soundtrack) was used, but tuned to different frequencies – 440 and 432 Hz.

The following parameters were measured: blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, perception (physical and emotional sensations such as fatigue and stress), concentration levels during the listening session, and overall satisfaction with the experience.

Music at 432 Hz was associated with greater reductions in blood pressure (systolic and diastolic), heart rate (-4.79 beats/min), and a slight decrease in respiratory rate than music at 440 Hz. Subjects were more focused on listening to the melody and were generally more satisfied after sessions using music at 432 Hz than after sessions with music at 440 Hz.

100 patients (13-83 years old, 46 males and 54 females) receiving endodontic treatment were examined. 50 listened to music tuned to 432 Hz during the procedure and 50 did not. Based on the Corah Dental Anxiety Scale (DAS) score before the procedure, patients were categorized into 4 levels of anxiety: no anxiety (<4), mild (4-8), moderate (9-12), and severe (>12) anxiety. Systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and heart rate (HR) were recorded before anesthesia, mid-treatment, and after cofferdam removal.

CAD, DAD, HR significantly decreased during and after canal treatment in the group listening to 432 Hz music compared to the control group (P < 0.05).

42 patients (mean age: 23.8 ± 7.8 years) with moderate levels of anxiety.

Each patient received Beats™ Solo 3 wireless headphones with active noise control connected to a Bluetooth-enabled audio player. For 15 minutes, participants listened to music played at 432 Hz or 440 Hz, using two songs by Giorgio Costantini 2012 from the album “Universound: 432 Hz” (432 Hz and 440 Hz versions).

The use of music significantly reduced anxiety levels, and the 432 Hz frequency was most effective in reducing cortisol levels in saliva.

Significantly lower values of anxiety levels were observed at 432 Hz and 440 Hz compared to the control group. Salivary cortisol levels at 432 Hz were significantly lower than at 440 Hz.

The participants were 54 individuals with an average age of 39 years. All of them were first responders, worked day shifts and had to perform certain activities during their breaks. The volunteers were divided into three groups: the first listened to music at 440 Hz, the second listened to music at 432 Hz, and the third were free to choose their activities. The participants’ stress levels were regularly assessed using special questionnaires, as well as a number of indicators such as blood pressure, heart rate, breathing rate, pain intensity, etc.

The results showed that anxiety decreased in all three groups, but only in the second group, whose members regularly listened to music at 432 Hz, there was a significant decrease in respiratory rate (-2.714) and systolic (“upper”) blood pressure (-3.8 mm Hg).

The authors of the study concluded that listening to music at 432 Hz may indeed help with anxiety and stress.

12 participants: eight men (mean age = 58.12, SD ± 13.62) and four women (mean age = 56.25, SD ± 14.17). 5 with paralysis of all limbs, 7 with paralysis of the lower limbs. Participants listened to their preferred music, tuned to either 432 or 440 Hz depending on the group, for 30 minutes per day (10 consecutive days). This was followed by a rest period, and the frequencies were reversed in the groups.

After listening to 432 Hz music, there was a significant improvement in sleep scores (+3.6, p=0.02), while there was no improvement in sleep after listening to 440 Hz music (-1.50, p=0.34).

Nine healthy adults, one male and eight females, aged 26 to 37 years, listened to quiet piano music for five minutes. On alternate days, they listened to music at 528 and 440 Hz.

Saliva samples were collected at five time points: immediately before music exposure, immediately after music exposure, after 15 minutes, after 30 minutes, and after 45 minutes. The POMS 2 (Profile of Moods) questionnaire was administered before and after music exposure. Participants also wore a device that read an electrocardiogram (up to 45 minutes after music exposure).

After listening to 528 Hz music, subjects had significantly decreased salivary cortisol levels, increased oxytocin, and chromogranin A tended to decrease. No significant changes in any salivary biomarkers were observed when listening to 440 Hz music. Also after exposure to 528 Hz music there was a significant decrease in heart rate variability.

The results of the questionnaire also indicate that after exposure to 528 Hz music, the subjects’ measures of tension and anxiety, as well as general mood disturbance, were significantly reduced. Music with a frequency of 440 Hz had no such effect.

These results indicate that 528 Hz music has a particularly strong anti-stress effect even after five minutes of exposure.

British scientists have created a musical composition, which, according to them, most effectively reduces stress levels (up to 65% while performing a task and up to 35% in a state of relaxation). In addition, the researchers report that the respondents after listening to the song had a decrease in heart rate, blood pressure and cortisol levels.

The study aims to find out what effect music (sad and happy) tuned to different frequencies – 432 and 440 Hz – has on emotions.

51 people took part in the experiment, the average age was 22.19 years. Such parameters as heart rate variability, experienced emotions, and mood were evaluated. Sad and cheerful tracks were recorded at 432 and 440 Hz.

Listening to sad and happy music did not induce any changes in sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system activity. However, participants who listened to the cheerful tracks reported greater relaxation compared to those who listened to the sad music.

In addition, participants who listened to 440 Hz music were more likely to report a negative mood after the session than volunteers who listened to tracks recorded at 432 Hz, especially men.

Thus, listening to music at different frequencies leads to differences in mood.

Brazilian scientists were the first to conduct a study that evaluated the effect of different music styles on heart rate variability. The study found that baroque and heavy metal music slightly reduced heart rate variability due to equivalent sound levels.

An international team of scientists reports that a 6 Hz binaural rhythm on a 250 Hz carrier tone can be used as a stimulus for a meditative state. The study involved 28 participants who were divided into control and study groups. In the experimental group, theta activity was induced throughout the cortex within 10 minutes after exposure to the stimulus and increased similarly to that observed in the meditative state just 10 minutes after exposure. In addition, the tension factor was reduced compared to the control group, resembling the effect of meditation.

A group of scientists from Japan’s National Institute of Neurobiology conducted an interesting study that examined the influence of the hypersonic effect (sound, over 20 kHz, containing significant amounts of non-stationary high-frequency components) on longevity in various acoustic environments. Hypersonic effects are known to induce various psychological and physiological responses. For example, they increase regional cerebral blood flow in the midbrain and thalamus, as well as in the alpha-frequency component of the occipital region of the electroencephalogram, and increase comfortable listening levels. Scientists have found that some natural environmental sounds, such as rainforest sounds, contain many inaudible high-frequency components. The results of the experiment showed a 17% increase in average lifespan in a group of animals exposed to an acoustic environment with a narrow range of rainforest sounds (~20 kHz).

Researchers at the University of Surrey’s Sleep Research Centre found that blue-enriched white light improved subjective measures of alertness, positive mood, performance, evening fatigue, irritability, concentration and eye discomfort in 104 subjects. Daytime sleepiness was reduced and nighttime sleep quality subjectively improved.

Scientists from the University of Manchester have shown that if the brain is “tuned” to a certain frequency, pain can be alleviated. This can be done by giving volunteers protective glasses that flicker with flashes of light at the brain’s alpha-band frequency of 8-12 Hz. In doing so, the pain is felt less intensely. Sixty-four subjects participated in the study. The greatest reduction in pain was observed after exposure to flashes of light with a frequency of 10 Hz.

Researchers from the University of Oviedo in Spain and the Institute of Telecommunications in Portugal have shown that blue light has a strong effect on heart rate variability, which is a marker of autonomic nervous system balance. Illumination with blue light increases parasympathetic activity in volunteers, while illumination with red light decreases it. Exposure to blue light decreased heart rate during the stimulation phase, while red light tended to increase it. Five volunteers took part in the pilot study.

Researchers from the University of Surrey and Heinrich Heine University proved that exposure to blue light significantly reduced blood pressure readings (by almost 8 mmHg) and improved cardiovascular markers. Scientists recorded a decrease in stiffness and an increase in blood vessel relaxation. Participants in the experiment were exposed to blue light in the 450 nanometer range (a dose comparable to daylight) for 30 minutes.

A team of scientists from Arizona Health Sciences University conducted a clinical study of the effects of green light on migraine patients. 29 people took part in the experiment. At the first stage, the patients received white light therapy for 10 weeks, and then after a two-week break they underwent the same course, but including exposure only to green light (525 nm). This therapy reduced the frequency and intensity of headaches by 60%, helped the patients to fall asleep, do housework, exercise and work more easily.

German scientists have demonstrated that brief exposure to the color green enhances creativity. The data were obtained in 4 experiments conducted on 202 subjects.

Scientists from the Medical University of Graz have evaluated the effect of infrared light on brain activity. The first results showed that blood oxygenation increased during light therapy and after exposure decreased to a level above baseline values.

Ophthalmologists from University College London conducted an experiment in which they offered 24 volunteers to look at long-wave red light for three minutes every day. As the results showed, red light had no effect on the visual acuity of young people, however, it significantly improved this ability in older people (40+). Their ability to distinguish the colors of the blue part of the spectrum increased by 20% (this ability deteriorates more in the process of aging), as well as the acuity of twilight vision.

Researchers from the University of São Paulo School of Medicine have shown that low-intensity laser radiation is an effective method of improving memory, attention and mood in both healthy subjects and patients with neurology. The study involved 36 respondents.

A team of scientists from Indiana University and Washington University have found that wearing blue-light filtering glasses can improve sleep quality and overall productivity. The experiment was conducted with 63 company managers and 67 call center employees who were assigned to test blue-light-filtered glasses and placebo glasses with regular lenses. As a result, the experimental group reported improved sleep quality and quantity, as well as better task performance and reduced unproductive time spent at work. The effect of wearing blue light filter glasses was stronger for owls than for larks.

Specialists from the Medical University of Graz have evaluated the effect of infrared light on brain activity. The study aims to change brain metabolism with the help of light in the red and infrared ranges. For this purpose, the scientists tested a helmet with infrared LEDs for photobiomodulation. The first results showed that blood oxygenation increased during light therapy and decreased to above baseline values after exposure. Thus, red and infrared light can improve neuronal metabolism and stimulate anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic and antioxidant responses, as well as the formation of new neurons and connections between them.

Specialists from the National Medical Center in Korea have found that after exposure to red and infrared light on the facial skin there is a reduction in wrinkles, an increase in skin elasticity, a noticeable increase in the number of collagen and elastic fibers. The study involved 112 subjects.

Specialists from the University of Utah Health Sciences Center have shown that blue light therapy using narrow-band LED panels proved to be an effective treatment for seasonal affective disorder. The trial was conducted on 30 patients.

Scientists from the Chinese University of Hong Kong conducted a study of the effect of photobiomodulation on brain function in 30 healthy volunteers. Red and infrared LEDs were used for the sessions. The results showed that photobiomodulation improves frontal cognitive function in elderly people and can serve as a potential neuroprotective agent.

Scientists from the National Research Tomsk State University conducted a study of the effect of colored fractals with musical accompaniment on 47 subjects. The authors concluded that fractals promote relaxation, stress relief and harmonization of personality.

Experts from the University of British Columbia and the University of Toronto have found that bright light, both in combination with fluoxetine and on its own is an effective therapy against non-seasonal major depressive disorder. A total of 122 patients participated in the experiment. The therapy included exposure to white fluorescent light with a luminance of 10,000 lux for 30 minutes per day in the early morning. In the group with combined treatment, the drug fluoxetine was added to the light illumination.

Specialists from the University of California and Harvard University studied how social interconnection increases the level of happiness. Having analyzed the data of 4739 people, they found out that the level of happiness increases if a person not only communicates with happy friends, but also lives not far from them – at a distance of about one and a half kilometers. Friends nearby can make a person 25% happier, and even 63% happier if their influence is stronger. Thus, happiness may be a collective phenomenon, the researchers conclude.

Social isolation and loneliness have a negative impact on aging people. Specialists from the University of Chicago conducted a survey among the elderly population of the United States about their social activity and testing for cognitive functions. Then they monitored the health of the subjects for four years.

A total of 8,688 volunteers aged 50 and older participated in the study. A total of 6,034 participants completed the experiment.

People who reported that they lived isolated from society and felt loneliness, after four years showed weaker test results on cognitive abilities, in particular, their memory was severely impaired. And, as scientists found, such participants were more likely to suffer from depression, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and had a dependence on smoking.

The researchers concluded that loneliness experienced over a long period of time and social isolation provoke the development of senile dementia.

Specialists from Brigham Young University (USA) conducted two meta-analyses to assess the impact of social ties on life expectancy and the risk of premature death. In the first, they analyzed 148 independent studies, which in total involved more than 300,000 patients. The analysis showed that high levels of social connections correlated with a 50% reduction in the risk of early death.

In the second meta-analysis, the researchers examined low levels of social connections and social isolation. Data from 70 independent studies involving more than 3.4 million subjects indicated that loneliness had an even greater impact on the risk of premature death than obesity, smoking, sedentary lifestyle or air pollution.

Both meta-analyses demonstrated that social disconnection can indeed be a serious threat to the individual.

Scientists from the Universities of Chicago and California studied how gene expression differs between socially active and lonely people. The results were striking: it turned out that people who felt lonely and isolated from society had significantly reduced levels of monocytes (a type of white blood cell) in the blood – such changes suppress the body’s antiviral response. In addition, it was also found that the feeling of loneliness activates a whole block of CTRA genes, which is involved in the development of the inflammatory process. The authors of the study concluded that loneliness and social isolation suppress the body’s immune system and may contribute to the “flourishing” of a number of dangerous diseases associated with inflammation, such as atherosclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease and cancer.

Experts from York and Newcastle Universities have found that feelings of loneliness and alienation can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease by a third. A meta-analysis of 23 studies involving data from more than 180,000 patients showed that a low level of social interaction increases the likelihood of coronary heart disease attacks by 29% and stroke by 32%.

People who have never been married are more likely to suffer from dementia in old age – these conclusions were made by scientists from the UK and France, analyzing 15 studies with data coverage of more than 812 thousand patients. In “hardened” bachelors, the risk of senile dementia after the age of 65 was 42% higher than in those who were married or had a permanent partner for several years.